CH.I - EDWARD

The nights here are usually like this. Alleyways always seem to hold mischief and mystery. I'd like to say that I know Midgar like the barrel of my gun, but cats are really the only streetwise beings in this place. I actually own a cat. Or you could say I know a cat that hangs around. Sleek, white with pink ears and watchful golden eyes. I named the cat Edward.

Edward is a girl.

I had no idea at the time that I named him... her. Some little girl with short brown hair and big brown eyes was petting away, "Pretty cat," she would say fondly, "Pretty, pretty cat."

It was much too early in the morning and I had to go to work and sulk over weaponry. "Alright, run along now, I have to feed him."

"Him?"

"Yes, him. Edward is my cat."

She giggles. I stare. "What's so funny?" I ask.

"It's not a him cat. It's a her cat," she giggles more, picking Edward up and nuzzling him.

I suppose I tried to attempt a more exasperated demeanor to cover my slight embarrassment. "Whatever, just... just give me my cat."

She obeys, raising him up above her head, but I was still too tall. I had to bend over and take him...her.. from the girl. She stops giggling, and I notice a copper reflection in her widened eyes. She says nothing more and runs away.

Whatever. I get that a lot.

I grumble away with my now-female cat. I grumble along to work. And I grumble along through the alleyways on my way home. Until now, where I stand at the corner of certain darkness and certain death. "That's just great." Because this morning I couldn't tell my cat was female, what else in my insignificant world could remind me of my being a failure?

A foretelling breeze rustles my hair. My hand slowly slides to grasp the firearm strapped to my waist. The presence rolls in slowly from certain darkness. It stops in front of me. The driver steps out of the dark vehicle, his shoulder length hair does not swish or sway with his movements; it remains smooth, and calm as his demeanor. His expression is cleverly hidden by sunglasses. He pulls open the back seat door and a figure steps out of the vehicle. The man supports her with an outstretched hand. She stands up straight, and approaches me as he shuts the door behind her. I sharply notice the black dot on his forehead. Must be Wutainese.

"Hello," she speaks.

I nod. She continues, "I've waited here for you."

She wears sunglasses as well, however, her expression isn't hidden by them. It lies within her unveiled smile, "You're a difficult man to find, Valentine."

"What do you want?"

Her pink lips remain smiling, "I want to know your secret."